Demonstration of a disruptive solar energy (OPV) technology reducing battery waste and enabling renewable power for IoT applications

Introduction

The main objective of the LIFE SUNRISE project is to scale up and demonstrate Epishine’s paradigm-shifting technology to widen access to innovative organic photovoltaic (OPV) solutions in the IoT context (and in the long term also BIPV). This project aims to offer affordable organic solar cells in huge volumes that are world-class in terms of climate impact at production.

Energy Consumption and Emissions

Buildings are responsible for 40% of the energy consumption and 36% of the emissions in Europe. Decreasing the building carbon footprint is thus important to achieve the ambitions set up by the European Commission.

Battery Waste Problem

In addition, with 200,000 tonnes of batteries sold each year in the EU alone and with less than 50% recycling, batteries and accumulators present a major waste problem. This ‘battery hell’ limits ubiquitous sensor deployment, particularly indoors; a roadblock that the IoT sensor industry has a strong need to remove.

Proposed Solution

We strongly believe that we can help the European Commission to accelerate the progress of preventing and mitigating battery waste in the IoT sector. In the long run, this will also increase the production of renewable energy through BIPV, by introducing an attractive, smart, resource- and energy-efficient OPV solution to the market.

Project Overview

This project is the first of its kind that will demonstrate effective production of the innovative OPV solar cells for IoT applications. The project aims to build up a pilot facility to validate the production components and systems at an industrially relevant scale (5% of full scale) and full operating conditions.

Partnerships

Epishine will demonstrate the OPV technology in partnership with five European associated partners:

1. Honeywell
2. Pollux
3. Ligna
4. Innovation Lab
5. Taganea

These partners are from Sweden, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland. Such a pilot approach will be a crucial part of replicating and scaling the technology to other sites in Europe and globally.

Conclusion

A successful LIFE SUNRISE project will enable Epishine’s vision to create planetary impact by enabling organic solar power everywhere.